Additionally, the fMRI findings helped decrease surgical time by an estimated 15 to 60 minutes in 22 patients. In six patients who had surgery, the neurosurgeon specifically commented that knowledge of the fMRI results enabled a more complete resection than otherwise would have been achieved.

No neurological deficits were documented in any patients after undergoing surgical tumor removal.


After completing this study, Dr. Petrella believes that patients who may have previously been deemed ineligible for surgery based on tumor location may be able to undergo surgery safely, due to the valuable information available with fMRI.

"This is a pilot study. To establish whether fMRI can become a new standard of care, the next step is to assess whether patient outcomes are actually improved in a large multicenter trial with a control group," he said.

Co-author James T. Voyvodic, Ph.D., ascertained that the present study should help boost confidence in making fMRI part of diagnostic brain exams. "If it can be included in a routine MRI exam, it will be quicker, cheaper and more available than it is now," he explained.

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has recently approved reimbursement for fMRI services, effective January 1, 2007. fMRI is currently available at approximately 50 medical centers across the United States.

# # #

Journal attribution required.

Radiology is a monthly scientific journal devoted to clinical radiology and allied sciences. The journal is edited by Anthony V. Proto, M.D., School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va. Radiology is owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA.org/radiologyjnl)

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of more than 38,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to promoting excellence in radiology through education and by fostering research, with the ultimate goal of improving patient care. The Society is based in Oak Brook, Ill. (RSNA.org)

"Preoperative Functional MR Imaging Localization of Language and Motor Areas: Effect on Therapeutic Decision Making in Patients with Potentially Resectable Brain Tumors." Collaborating with Dr. Petrella on this paper were Lubdha M. Shah, M.D., Katy M. Harris, B.S., Allen H. Friedman, M.D., Timothy M. George, M.D., John H. Sampson, M.D., Ph.D., Joseph S. Pekala, M.D., and James T. Voyvodic, Ph.D.

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